Stars of special interest observed by the BRITE Satellite Constellation

由奥地利、加拿大和波兰发射的六颗卫星组成的BRITE星座是一个空间天文学项目，涉及3对纳米卫星（<10公斤），专门用于为天空中最亮的恒星提供高质量、连续的光度测量。它是加拿大卫星项目MOST的合理继承者。BRITE任务的要求规定，对于低至+3.5等的明亮恒星，误差小于0.1%（有充分的理由期望超过+5等的扩展限制，即2-3千颗恒星），要监测从单颗卫星轨道（~103分钟）到数周、数月甚至数年的时间尺度变化。明亮的星等限制将导致恒星样本偏向于最明亮的恒星，因为几何稀释1/d^2弱于恒星亮度的固有范围。因此，为BRITE星座设想的主要用途是研究大多数明亮和大质量恒星的脉动和风质量损失不稳定性。这一提议提出了一个研究计划，研究那些偶然落入大型卫星场的物体，这些物体主要是大质量的，但不一定是大质量的。多样化的目标是通过设计，包括两个HQP在研究生水平在6个科目之一。这种做法应有助于扩大加拿大经验丰富的空间天文学专家的补充；注：BRITE项目已经在UTIAS-SFL发挥了这样的作用，在那里，硕士生积极从事BRITE卫星工程的各种技术方面的工作。主题：1；明亮恒星中候选超新星的光变化特征（超新星前变异性指标）；2. 与伴星（如Mira或心宿二）的晚型超巨星的变异性：与MS、WD或NS伴星的强风相互作用；3. 寻找oba型恒星的行星凌日，在那里，多普勒技术无法工作，而对行星数量的理论预测尚无定论；4. 穿越赫茨普龙隙的恒星的活动和光斑旋转速率；5. 建立一个高度一致（如果是仪器）的光度测量系统，以消除在> -3%水平的明亮恒星的臭名昭着的差异；6. 发现紧密的双星作为我以前兴趣的延续。

The BRITE Constellation of six satellites, to be launched by Austria, Canada and Poland, is a space astronomy project involving 3 pairs of nano-satellites (<10kg) specifically aimed at providing high quality, continuous photometry for brightest stars of the sky. It is a logical successor of the Canadian satellite project MOST. Requirements of the BRITE mission specify errors <0.1% for bright stars down to +3.5 mag (with good reasons to expect extended limits beyond +5 mag., i.e. >2-3 thousands of stars) to be monitored for variability in time scales from single satellite orbits (~103 min) upward to weeks, months or even years. The bright magnitude-limit will result in a star sample biased towards most luminous stars as the geometric-dilution 1/d^2 is weaker than the intrinsic range of stellar luminosities. Accordingly, the main uses envisaged for the BRITE Constellation are studies of pulsational and wind mass-loss instabilities in most luminous & massive stars. This proposal suggests a program of studies of objects which will serendipitously fall into the large satellite fields and are mainly, but not necessarily, massive. The diversified objectives are by design meant to involve two HQP at the graduate level in one of 6 subjects. Such an approach should contribute to broadening of the Canadian complement of highly experienced space-astronomy specialists; note: the BRITE project is already serving such a role at UTIAS-SFL where MSc students actively work on various technical aspects of BRITE satellite engineering. The subjects: 1. Characterization of light variations for supernova candidates among bright stars (pre-supernova variability indicators); 2. Variability of late-type supergiants with companions (such as Mira or Antares): strong wind interaction with MS, WD or NS companions; 3. Search for planetary transits for OBA-type stars where the Doppler technique does not work while theoretical predictions on the number of planets are inconclusive; 4. Activity and spot rotation rates for stars crossing the Hertzsprung gap; 5. Establishment of a highly consistent (if instrumental) photometric system to remove notorious discrepancies for bright stars at >2-3% level; 6. Discovery of close binaries as a continuation of my previous interests.